History, Facts and
Information about Claudius
The content of this article provides
interesting history, facts and
information about the Emperor
Claudius and the all-powerful
Caesars who ruled the empire of
Ancient Rome. The word "Caesar" was
originally the name of an aristocratic patrician family of
ancient Rome, the most famous being the dictator Julius
Caesar who seized power when Rome was still a republic.

The adopted son of
Julius Caesar was Augustus became the first Roman Emperor
and all of the successors in the family used the name
Caesar. The term became synonymous with the Roman Emperors
and each succeeding emperor retained the name "Caesar" as
part of their title. Refer to the comprehensive
List of Roman Emperorsfor the names of the most famous Romans, their dynasties and the historic eras of all the Roman Emperors and usurpers. Read about the life of Claudius who can be described, or remembered, as:

"The
bumbling man who became Emperor against all odds and married
the infamous Messalina"

Short Biography
about the life of Claudius
Short Biography profile and facts about one of the most famous Romans of all, in the life of
Claudius, Emperor of Rome and provinces of the Roman Empire.

Name of previous Emperor: His predecessor or the Emperor before Claudius was
Caligula

Date succeeded as Emperor of
Rome and circumstances of rule: 54 AD

Family connections / Genealogy
of Claudius

Name of Father: Nero Claudius
Drusus

Name of Mother: Antonia Minor

Claudius Married:

Plautia Urgulanilla, AD 9–24

Aelia Paetina, AD 28–31

Messalina, AD 38–48

Agrippina the Younger, AD
49–54

Children of Claudius:

Claudius Drusus (died in
childhood)

Claudia Antonia

Claudia Octavia

Place and Date of Death:
Claudius died October 13, 54 (age 63) and was buried in the Mausoleum of
Augustus

Name of next Emperor:
The successor to Claudius was Nerowho was
his stepson by 4th wife, Agrippina the Younger

Why was Claudius famous? Accomplishments, achievements and important events:The Emperor Claudius was
the son of Drusus and Antonia, and the brother of
Germanicus. He was fifty-one years old when, after the
murder of Caligula, the Praetorian Guard raised him to the
throne. His health had always been delicate and he had never
taken any part in public affairs. Claudius was fond of
letters, and wrote memoirs of his own time and histories in
Greek of Etruria and of Carthage. Claudius also made various
useful laws, and carried out several public works of
importance. He completed the Claudian aqueduct, begun by
Caligula, and built a fort and light-house at Ostia, and a
tunnel from Lake Lucinus to the River Liris. Colonia
Agrippina (Cologne) was raised by his orders to the most
important military station in Lower Germany. In A.D. 43 a
Roman army invaded Britain. Claudius himself entered that
country soon after, and returned to Rome in triumph. His
first acts were popular and mild, but, having fallen under
the control of his wife Messalina he put to death many of
the best of the Romans. When, however, Messalina ventured to
marry C. Silius, a young Roman knight, Claudius directed her
execution. Claudius then married his niece Agrippina, who
prevailed upon him to set aside his son Britannicus, and to
adopt her own son Nero. Claudius became suspicious of the
ambitions of his wife for Nero and she resolved to have
Claudius killed. Locusta, a noted poisoner, was hired to
prepare a dish of poisoned mushrooms, of which Claudius ate:
but the poison not proving fatal, the physician Xenophon
forced a larger quantity into his throat and Claudius died October
13, A.D. 54.

The Julian-Claudian Dynasty - 27 BC to AD 68The Julian-Claudian Dynasty
spanned 27 BC to AD 68. This dynasty is known as the Julio-Claudians
because its Emperors belonged to the patrician families
called the Julii and the Claudii. Some of the most famous of
all of the emperors belonged to this dynasty including
Julius Caesar, the Dictator and the
first Roman Emperor, Octavian (Augustus) Caesar who was followed by
Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius and Nero.